Pertinent (adjective) describes something that is directly relevant or applicable to the matter being considered; to the point. It is often used in the phrase "a pertinent question" or "pertinent information".
Example: "She raised a pertinent question about the budget."
What Does Pertinent Mean?
The word pertinent comes from the Latin pertinere, meaning "to relate to" or "to belong to" — the same root that gives us pertain. The underlying idea is connection: a pertinent remark belongs to the topic and clearly relates to it, rather than wandering off into something else.
In modern English, pertinent is a formal, high-value adjective used to show that a point, question, or piece of information has a direct bearing on the subject under discussion. It does more than say something is merely "about" a topic; it implies that the point is sharply and usefully relevant. You will often see it in the phrases "a pertinent question" and "pertinent information", which appear constantly in reports, legal documents, and academic essays.
Key point: pertinent is neutral, with a slightly approving edge. Calling a question pertinent suggests it is well-judged because it goes straight to the heart of the matter. This makes it especially useful in professional and academic writing, where staying on point is prized. See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “pertinent” for more examples.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level / Note |
|---|---|
| She asked a pertinent question that nobody had thought of. | B2 — meetings / neutral register |
| Please attach any pertinent documents to your application. | B2 — formal / administrative register |
| The lawyer set out only the facts that were pertinent to the case. | C1 — legal / formal register |
| His comments, though brief, were highly pertinent to the debate. | C1 — academic / formal register |
| The findings remain pertinent decades after they were first published. | C1 — analytical / literary register |
Word Family
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- relevant — connected to the matter
- applicable — able to be applied
- apposite — strikingly suitable
- germane — closely connected
- material — important to the case
Antonyms
- irrelevant — not connected to the matter
- immaterial — not important to the case
- inappropriate — not suitable
- unrelated — having no connection
- extraneous — outside the subject
Common Collocations
- a pertinent question — "He raised a pertinent question about cost."
- pertinent information — "Please provide all pertinent information."
- pertinent details — "She noted the pertinent details in the margin."
- highly pertinent — "The remark was highly pertinent."
- particularly pertinent — "This point is particularly pertinent today."
- pertinent to — "Only evidence pertinent to the charge was heard."
Related Words
Practise This Word
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Frequently Asked Questions about “pertinent”
What does pertinent mean in English?
Pertinent means directly relevant or applicable to the matter being discussed; to the point. A pertinent question or detail has a clear bearing on the subject at hand. For example: 'She raised a pertinent question about the budget.' It carries a formal, neutral tone and is common in academic, legal, and professional writing where relevance to the topic really matters.
How do you pronounce pertinent?
Pertinent is pronounced /ˈpɜːtɪnənt/ in British English. It has three syllables: PUR-ti-nuhnt. The main stress falls on the first syllable: PUR. The first syllable rhymes with 'fur', and the ending '-inent' is said as a soft 'ti-nuhnt'. Say it slowly: PUR... ti... nuhnt.
What is the CEFR level of pertinent?
Pertinent is a C1 (Advanced) level word. It appears mainly in academic essays, business discussions, legal documents, and formal debate, where speakers need to show that a point relates directly to the topic. C1 learners are expected to use precise words like pertinent instead of only basic phrases such as 'about the subject'.
What are synonyms for pertinent?
Synonyms for pertinent include: relevant (connected to the matter), applicable (able to be applied), apposite (strikingly suitable), germane (closely connected), and material (important to the case). When showing that something relates directly to the topic, 'pertinent', 'relevant', and 'germane' are the closest matches.
What are antonyms of pertinent?
Antonyms of pertinent include: irrelevant (not connected to the matter), immaterial (not important to the case), inappropriate (not suitable), unrelated (having no connection), and beside the point (off-topic). You might contrast: 'The judge dismissed the remark as immaterial rather than pertinent.'
What is the noun form of pertinent?
The noun form is pertinence (/ˈpɜːtɪnəns/), and the variant pertinency is also used: 'The pertinence of the evidence was obvious.' Pertinence means the quality of being relevant. The adverb is pertinently: 'She pertinently asked who would pay for it.' There is no common verb form.
What are common collocations with pertinent?
Common collocations with pertinent include: a pertinent question, pertinent information, pertinent details, pertinent facts, highly pertinent, particularly pertinent, and pertinent to the discussion. The most frequent is 'a pertinent question', used when someone asks something that goes straight to the heart of the matter.
Is pertinent positive, negative, or neutral?
Pertinent is a neutral, fairly formal adjective with a slightly positive flavour. Calling a question or comment pertinent usually implies it is sharp and well-judged because it relates directly to the topic. It does not criticise; it simply states that something is on point. Its formal tone makes it more common in academic and professional settings than in casual chat.
What is the difference between pertinent and relevant?
Both mean connected to the topic, but pertinent is more formal and suggests something is precisely and pointedly relevant, often impressively so. Relevant is the everyday word for any connection to the subject. A pertinent question goes straight to the crux of the matter; a relevant question simply has some bearing on it. You might call a sharp, well-timed query pertinent and a broadly on-topic one relevant.
How can I practise the word pertinent on LexFizz?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards to practise pertinent alongside related C1 adjectives like relevant and germane. The Vocabulary Quiz presents pertinent in sentence context so you learn the phrase 'a pertinent question', and the Wordsearch helps you fix the spelling — note that it begins with 'pert', like the word for lively and bold. Try writing two sentences: one in which someone asks a pertinent question and one describing pertinent information in a report.